DR Congo: Fighting between army and M23 rebels leave civilians at breaking point

Presidio, Tex., Jan. 3.—Fleeing from the heaviest firing in all the five days' battle between the federals in Ojinaga, Mexico, and General Ortega's rebel army which is surrounding the village, women, children and deserving soldiers flocked to the border and crossed the river in such numbers today that the United States border patrol and the Red Cross faced serious problems of feeding the refugees. It was necessary to permit food to be sent across the river to save the lives of women, children and wounded federals. For such as waded through the river there was no shelter. The church and the few buildings here had been converted into Red Cross hospitals. Maj. Michael M. McNamee, commanding officer of the patrol, also received few federal deserters and held them prisoners on this side. In the line streaming down from the battle about a mile back from the river, women nursing babies mingled with the hobbling wounded. They were scattered for almost two miles up and down the river bank. Most of these refugees were camp followers at remote points; wounded federals also came to the river. Major McNamee extended to the combatants of both sides such aid as humanity dictated. The arrival of the camp followers, who usually remain with the soldiers until the situation becomes untenable for them, was regarded as the precursor of greater exodus. Major McNamee has been on the alert for a week for a possible flight of the whole federal army. Though the battle between the 1000 defending fe[derals...]